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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not let my daughter get her ears pierced at Claires?

108 replies

Hdaniels11 · 14/11/2022 17:29

My Dd has just turned 9 and has been begging me to let her have her ears pierced so i agreed but i told her that we will have to go to a "proper" piercing place and not Claire's. I didn't really know much about Claire's until i started looking into it and apparently it's got a really bad reputation for piercings and i have read multiple things online about how piercing guns are bad?Im not sure how true that is tho. My Dd specifically wants them done at Claire's because she loves the shop and that's where all her friends got them done but i don't want to risk her going there and getting a nasty infected piercing. I do feel mean saying she can't go there but i don't know what else to do.
Should i give her a choice between getting them done at a reputable place or no piercing at all?

OP posts:
BeKindToYourMind · 14/11/2022 17:30

Should i give her a choice between getting them done at a reputable place or no piercing at all?

This is the stance I'll be taking if my DD ever decides she wants hers doing.

pinkyredrose · 14/11/2022 17:30

You're in the right, piercing professional only, no Claires!

ImprobablePuffin · 14/11/2022 17:31

I mean, she's 9. You're the parent, if you don't want her getting them done there then that's that, surely.
And you're correct, Claire's is shit for piercing and you want somewhere that uses needles not guns.

Loics · 14/11/2022 17:32

Guns are never good for piercing, causes unnecessary trauma to the area and risk of infection is much bigger.

Cw112 · 14/11/2022 17:32

Piercing guns are usually problematic if they aren't cleaned and sterilised sufficiently. If you're worried about it I'd give a ring round some other places that offer piercing and ask about their hygiene procedures. A lot of places still use guns outside of Claire's for lower earlobe piercing so you want somewhere that will do cartilage piercing also. I had my ears done with a gun and it was fine, they got infected afterwards but it wasn't to do with the piercing technique itself just the aftercare and catching them on things.

Dobbyismyabsolutefav · 14/11/2022 17:33

From personal experience go elsewhere.

PPop · 14/11/2022 17:34

Guns are awful for piercings. There is loads out there about the impact on the skin etc as the gun is a stud thrust through at speed, it's worth some research. I'd go to a reputable piercer they will use a needle, hurts less (I've done both over the years) and needle it's quicker to heal and less prone to infection.

isthismylifenow · 14/11/2022 17:34

Stay away from the gun.

A piercing with a needle at a reputable place, or not at all.

My dd had hers done with a gun age 7 ( her father took her without my knowledge). One was shot in skew...

She had them repierced some years later.

If it's the specific studs she wants, buy them and ask the piecer to put those in.

Soproudoflionesses · 14/11/2022 17:36

We went to my hairdressers - they used a gun and dd has never had any problems at all ....the hairdresser took their time over explaining it all and l was happy with it. Maybe we were lucky- l had mine done with a gun years ago and also never had any issues.

Bunnyannesummers · 14/11/2022 17:36

You’re absolutely being a responsible parent. Somewhere reputable with proper training and hygiene or not at all

if it helps, a friend worked in Claire’s during uni…one training video, two supervised piercings and she was left to do them by herself. Mental!

Yerroblemom1923 · 14/11/2022 17:36

Don't go to Claire's. Explain your reasons and tell her if she wants it done you'll take her to a reputable place. If she insists on Claire's then tell her it won't be happening. The lack of training is shocking there.

BHRK · 14/11/2022 17:37

We went to a jewellery shop. Said no to Claire’s. If your daughter wants them done she’ll accept what you’re saying

AmberGer · 14/11/2022 17:37

Ds had his done at a reputable place with a needle.
Much better aftercare and they were fantastic. Not cheap (about £30 for one ear) but definitely worth it.
I wouldn't touch claire's with a bargepole

whoareyouinviting · 14/11/2022 17:37

This is not even to be questioned when you are the parent and this concerns your child's health/safety? Your 9 year old does not make this decision, you do.

LolaSmiles · 14/11/2022 17:38

Should i give her a choice between getting them done at a reputable place or no piercing at all?
That's the choice I'll be giving my DC.

I don't understand why this is a question. She is 9 and OP is the parent.

It's unreasonable to expect a 9 year old to have the logic and risk assessment skills of an adult. That's why they have parents.

The flip side is, knowing guns are problematic and knowing the issues with Claire's, would the OP be happy for her child to have issues on the grounds that at least my 9 year old had body modifications based on what their 9 year old friends said?

isthismylifenow · 14/11/2022 17:38

Also a good life lesson re peer pressure, don't have to do everything your friends do.

Dixiechickonhols · 14/11/2022 17:39

It’s expensive and done by someone with virtually no training. Fact it’s in shop with everyone gawping puts me off too.
I had mine done first time in my 40s at a jewellers and it was a press type thing like a little stapler. Didn’t hurt and healed beautifully. No charge for piercing if you bought earrings. Youngest they did was age 7.
Teen DD has had some done at a piercing place - they use a needle and I’m sure do normal piercing not just cartilage.
If you google piercing or ask on local facebook someone will recommend a proper place.

whoareyouinviting · 14/11/2022 17:39

LolaSmiles · 14/11/2022 17:38

Should i give her a choice between getting them done at a reputable place or no piercing at all?
That's the choice I'll be giving my DC.

I don't understand why this is a question. She is 9 and OP is the parent.

It's unreasonable to expect a 9 year old to have the logic and risk assessment skills of an adult. That's why they have parents.

The flip side is, knowing guns are problematic and knowing the issues with Claire's, would the OP be happy for her child to have issues on the grounds that at least my 9 year old had body modifications based on what their 9 year old friends said?

Exactly

Essexgirlupnorth · 14/11/2022 17:39

We took my daughter to a proper piercing place. Was done with a newdle everything was clean and sterile. They were really good with her too. Was more expensive that Claire's thought but haven't had any problems with them.

MrsK89 · 14/11/2022 17:41

Yep agree with previous posters, no chance I'll be using Claires for my DD. Piercing needle is always best

WaIkingDownMadison · 14/11/2022 17:42

I think it's good that your daughter is able to feel like in general, her opinion counts. That's really important. But in this instance, I'd be insisting we go elsewhere, and she can pick an extra nice pair of earrings.

Singlebutmarried · 14/11/2022 17:43

DD went to a piercing studio. They pieced with a needle and put flat back, screw ball front studs in (they were still sparkly).

I’d not go to Claire’s, am taking DD back at the start of the Christmas break for her second piercing (lobes again) as she’s nearly 4 weeks off and that’s long enough to swap the studs to the ‘invisible’ ones while she’s at school.

I might get one done while in there myself.

gianfrancogorgonzola · 14/11/2022 17:46

You are definitely in the right. Proper piercing place or not at all.

GaahhhhPfff · 14/11/2022 17:46

I just don't understand that in RL everyone uses Claire's and on MN it's a scary big no no.

SapphosRock · 14/11/2022 17:48

My DD had hers pierced at Claire's and all was fine. We bought the recommended healing solution, applied as instructed and they healed beautifully.

I did invest in the more expensive studs.